Leela Gilday Band
Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Canada | INDIE
Music
Press
Press & Quotes
“Leela is a huge new talent whose star shines brightly. Once you’ve heard her sing, you won’t forget her name. The world is waiting.” – Sandy Scofield
"Leela Gilday, a rising star in the world of aboriginal music, and a future pop icon as well"
-Alex Varty, Georgia Straight
“Every once in a while, one encounters a voice that sends tingles up and down the spine. It’s a combination of qualities… a voice that abandons itself to the song, with the whole body thrown in for good measure, a serious talent that has been finely honed, and that indefinable thing we call charisma. I’m talking about Leela Gilday….”
- Michele Letourneau, Northern News Services
“Leela Gilday blew everyone away with her performance…”
- Heather Kelly, Heather Kelly Communications
“This Dene singer/songwriter has a powerful voice and her songs are driven by a love for her home along the shores of Great Slave Lake.”
- Alan Greyeyes ,SAY Magazine
“Among the most memorable performances of the festival: pretty vocal melodies of
Leela Gilday…”
– Jasmine Budak, Northern News Services
“Her representation of the NWT’s artistic community and the Dene continues to be a source of pride for us all.”- Stephen Kakfwi, former Premier of the NWT
“Over the years, Leela has made a considerable contribution to Denendeh with her music, and we have long recognized her as a talented member of our nation.”
– Bill Erasmus, Dene National Chief
“She continues to captivate audiences with her charismatic voice and diverse musical ability. She is a very powerful performer and it is no wonder that she will always be a cherished gem and a favourite at our festival for many years.”
–Tracey Bryant, Festival Director, Folk on the Rocks
- Various
Discography
Discography
"Calling All Warriors"- copyright 2010 Diva Sound Records Produced by Adam Popowitz
"One Drum"- copyright 2007 Music Video produced by Big Soul Productions
“Sedzé” – copyright 2006 Diva Sound. Produced by Teppei Kamei and Leela Gilday
“Sweet Rebel Music”- one song on compilation by Spirit Magazine
“Dig Your Roots”- one song on nationally-distributed compilation CD
“spirit world, solid wood”- copyright 2002 Diva Sound. Produced by John Switzer
“Indian Girl” – copyright 2001 demo at CBC studios
“Truly Something” – one song on CBC records compilation
Photos
Bio
A captivating Dene singer/songwriter, Leela Gilday is a passionate, soulful performer who takes listeners on a journey through a musical world where freedom and joy balance sorrow and injustice. Her lyrics, reflective of her northern roots, embrace the essence of Dene life from an urban perspective.
She hails from Yellowknife, NWT and is a member of the Dene Nation. “We have long recognized her as as talented member of our nation,” says Dene National Chief, Bill Erasmus.
Leela Gilday has many national awards to her credit including a Juno and Western Canadian Music Award for her second album Sedzé. In 2009 she won Best Music Video at the Dreamspeakers Festival in Edmonton AB and in 2008, she received a Fellowship at the Banff Centre for the Arts. According to Alex Vardy of the Georgia Straight, “Leela Gilday (is) a rising star in the world of aboriginal music and a future pop icon as well.”
Touring has taken Leela from Tokyo to Toronto to Haida Gwaii. She has toured extensively throughout Canada playing festivals, theatres, ceremonies, and folk clubs. Performance highlights include the Winnipeg Folk Festival, Vancouver East Cultural Centre, ImagineNATIVE Festival in Toronto, 6th Annual Aboriginal Music Festival in Saskatoon, and Canada Day on Parliament Hill in Ottawa. In 2008, Leela shared the stage at Vancouver’s Orpheum Theatre with Feist, Ron Sexsmith, and Jorane.
Radio and television appearances include CBC Radio (Stuart McLean’s Vinyl Cafe, Sounds Like Canada) and the Aboriginal People’s Television Network (2008 National Aboriginal Day Broadcast).
Leela Gilday released her much anticipated third CD "Calling All Warriors" in July 2010. It has already garnered a Western Canadian Music Award, a Canadian Aboriginal Music Award, and an Aboriginal Peoples Choice Music Award. Most recently, Leela was named Aboriginal Female Entertainer of the Year at the 2011 Aboriginal Peoples Choice Music Awards.
She performs and tours solo or with a band.
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